Just like humans, each cat is a unique individual with a story to tell. I have lived my life surrounded by cats and I believe that each one deserves the chance to find a safe, loving home.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Why I started this blog

I love animals. I love dogs with their winning personalities and unconditional acceptance. I love horses with their grace and strength. I love floofy bunnies and hyper hamsters, puffy chinchillas and devious ferrets. I love the smooth fluidity of snakes and the awesome diversity of lizards. I love the slow-but-steady dignity of turtles and tortoises and the quick, in-your-face humor of dolphins and whales.

But most of all, I absolutely adore cats.

I hang out with Tyrone, one of my cats.

I love felines in all their wondrous variety: big, small, long-haired, short-haired, spotted, striped and swirled. The crying of a kitten or cub touches my heart faster and stronger than that of a human baby and I just can't resist a whiskered face looking for love or food. And apparently they know that, because the lonely, lost and starving ones always seem to find my doorstep.

Besides being owned by cats of my own, I have also fostered shelter cats and volunteered at adoption events. I have worked with the feral cat program and advocated for the ASPCA. I have served on the board for a no-kill shelter and spent hours feeding, cleaning, loving and socializing these wonderful animals in search of a home.

A couple of years ago, things changed. My youngest sister, Kristin, and her two small children moved in with me. This was a wonderful thing, but the addition of two small children to the house - Kent was 1 1/2 at the time and Kassie was 6 months - put an end to my fostering program. Then my health took a downturn and I no longer had the energy for the volunteer work with the shelters and rescue groups.

I have recently started trying to find ways I can still help. There are a plethora of groups out there doing a wonderful job helping cats and other animals in need. But which one do I go with? And what good can I really do when I only have a couple hours per month when I feel well enough to do anything besides sleep and go to work?

The answer finally came to me while I was - fittingly - trying to spend some socialization time with Bobbi, a feral cat that recently started showing up at my house. Why do I have to pick only one group to help? I am a writer. I spend several hours per day on the computer and I network with people across the country - even across the globe. Why not do what I do best, share some fun and inspiring stories about my own cats, and raise awareness for the groups out there fighting the good fight to find these gorgeous creatures homes.

I will be content if I find a loving family for just one lost, lonely cat. Yet I won't rest until every single homeless pet has a forever home.

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FOSTER CATS

My foster cats are adoptable through the Ivins Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, the only no-kill municipal shelter in Utah.

The Shelter is located at 474 N. 200 West, Ivins - just outside Snow Canyon State Park and about 1 1/2 hours north of Las Vegas. You can get more info by calling 435-628-1049 or by visiting the Shelter's Petfinder page.

Mouse

Gender: FemaleBirthday: August 1, 2011Fostered as a stray. She showed up on my doorstep on Nov. 2Likes: Food of any kind, cuddles, belly rubs and anything she can use as a toy.Dislikes: People who won't rub her belly.

Bobby

Gender: MaleBirthday: We are guessing he is a couple of years old.Fostered as a stray. He started showing up in August 2010Likes: Food and warm places to sleepDislikes: Rainy days and loud peopleMeet Bobby

Sandi

Gender: FemaleBirthday: Unknown - we guess she is a couple of years oldFostered from the Ivins Animal Shelter on May 9, 2011.Likes: Cuddling with humans and chasing bugsDislikes: Other cats, human food, other cats and water

PERMANENT RESIDENTS

You can't have these ones. They're all mine.

Ashi

Gender: FemaleBirthday: Mid-October 1999Adopted: Thanksgiving Day 1999Likes: Cheese, warm places, cheese, sunbeams and cheese.Dislikes: Being cold and anything that gets between her and cheese.Meet Ashi

Diedra

Gender: Female
Birthday: Early 2006?
Adopted: August 2007
Likes: Cuddly naps, tuna treats and boxes
Dislikes: Water and small children
Meet Diedra

Ivy Girl

Formerly named Mishu

Gender: FemaleBirthday: Unknown - we know she is at least 2 years old.Fostered from the Ivins Animal Shelter on July 23, 2011. Officially adopted on November 17, 2011Likes: Hideaways and covered beds, catnip toys and toes.Dislikes: Crowded places and people who don't pay attention to her.

The background photo on this blog is a wallpaper image provided by the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). This and other wonderful images are available free if you sign up to get their e-mail newsletter. Try it out!